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Mobile gaming is blowing up, and the proof is in the numbers. As of right now, women have rocketed past young guys as the largest video game playing demographic in the U.S., with 80% of moms (if you can believe it) playing mobile games at least once a week. This evolution of what it means to be a gamer is one reason that the mobile segment of today’s 90 billion dollars gaming industry is going to overtake the console market this year. A lot of people are playing video games these days and there are plenty of them out there to play.

So now let’s talk about some different numbers – specifically the number of processors in a gaming device. A big part of mobile’s dominance in the gaming world has to do with the technology available now. Once upon a time, being a serious gamer meant having a lot of different devices. A PC, a console or three and some handheld systems, too. Now the only device you need to play everything from the simplest word puzzles to the most complex RPGs is probably already in your pocket.

Probably – not definitely – because when it comes to what a phone or tablet can do, the specs are still all over the map. Price, screen size, coverage area, and audio options are easy enough for the not-so-serious gamer to understand, but processors are another story. What are dual core and quad core processors? And why do they have such a big impact on device performance, anyway?

First, let’s take a look at what processors actually are. The first single core processors (also known as the central processing unit or CPU) on the market for desktop and mobile devices were pretty good at doing one task at a time. Multi core processors were the next stage of desktop evolution – having multiple processors meant a device was much better at handling multiple tasks simultaneously. More cores also let users complete larger, more complex tasks with greater efficiency. Fast forward to 2012 when the first dual core processors for tablets and smartphones hit the scene and then to today, when companies like Snapdragon are helping make quad core the standard.

The natural next question is whether you need a quad core processor or whether two cores will suffice. Processing power isn’t necessarily a clear deal maker or breaker. A dual core will offer plenty of power to casual device users who tend to do one thing at a time – browsing OR looking at photos OR listening to music.

More serious gamers, however, benefit from everything multi core processors offer because they don’t have to worry about games competing with background functions and downloads for resources. That ‘s why graphics-heavy video games and resource intensive apps that deliver graphics, speed and sound simultaneously look better and work better with more processing power behind them. An automatic Instagram update or an incoming text message – just to offer two examples – isn’t going affect performance.

If you’re in the market for a new device, don’t get swept away by the more technical stats. Instead, consider how you use your tablet or phone. Devices at nearly every price point now feature quad core processors but that doesn’t mean you need one. Don’t forget that a device’s graphics processing unit (GPU), Flash processors, image processors and operating system will all contribute to how well it performs under pressure.

That said, a phone or tablet with a quad core processor will load apps and photos faster, have sharper graphics and streaming speeds, and support today’s more graphics-intensive games. It’s also a good bet for the future as more and more apps are being developed with the assumption that the user will be on a quad core device. As development goes, so do device trends – getting on board the quad car now might just be a smart idea.

Via http://ematic.us/tablets/7-hd-quad-core-android-42-egq307

About the AuthorJessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

The days of the slowly moving pixelated snake on a tiny Nokia cellphone are long gone and have been replaced with Snapdragon processor-run games. Due to the emergence of groundbreaking innovation like powerful graphics processing units, as well as the integration of internet in mobile devices, leaps and bounds have been made in mobile gaming and graphics technology.

It’s important to understand that just a couple of decades ago, games were solely played on traditional gaming consoles or computers and not on phones or tablets. Smart phones did not exist and tablets most definitely were not available to the general public. The progression towards mobilizing society has led to the massive rise of network-equipped gadgets, which has indirectly pushed the development in modern graphics processing units (GPUs). This technology has evolved gaming and allowed it to become a mobile experience.

Snapdragon’s GPUs, made by Qualcomm, have been integral to changing the face of mobile gaming and overall consumer expectation. These processors provide ultra high-definition graphics and are capable of producing realistic 3D scenes and effects. Furthermore, the technology enables smooth connection to the internet allowing users to connect with other gamers, participate in social media components that are now often woven into the game schema and continue to upgrade and purchase the latest versions from publishers. Speed, connectivity and superior graphics are becoming the norm thanks to Qualcomm’s advanced technology that is being built into the top Android-based devices in the market. It’s fueling the mobile gaming industry’s growth.

Video game publishers have been adapting their strategy to match the fast pace of technological developments on the backend of mobile visuals. Producers have invested heavily in mobile games by launching classic console game staples across mobile devices. The competitive landscape in gaming has also become more diverse – mobile gaming has created a platform for lesser-known developers to come out with a variety of different games and place them in app stores for anyone and everyone to buy. Because the playing field in terms of graphics has leveled out between console and mobile, the audience has moreover expanded to various demographics. Complex gaming doesn’t just mean Modern Combat; it also means games such as Candy Crush – bright, visuals with social media as a huge part of the game.

The shift has been made from Nintendo 64 to the latest lightweight, AMOLED-screen tab and now, innovative gaming and graphics technology is being developed with mobile in mind. Advancements in processing units and internal structures within mobile devices give consumers the chance to experience accurate, quick moves, sharp immersive sounds and spectacular graphics that come with mobile games, simple and complicated alike. Mobile players are left wanting more, and so long as there is demand, graphic tech development will continue to game on.

About the AuthorJessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

Top Apps and Software for Synced Devices

With smartphones, tablets and laptops now an everyday fixture in people’s lives, the long-held promise of near universal connectivity has finally arrived. Spearheaded by companies like Samsung, which has invested heavily in sync devices over the last half-decade, this new connected era allows individuals to access information, personal data, files and more, from anywhere and at any time. Whether you want to settle a bet at the bar, pull up a work file during the weekend, or need to conduct some last-minute banking, you can, right from your phone. These connected devices have literally changed the world for hundreds of millions of people.

So You’re Thinking of Syncing Your Devices…

To make the most of sync devices requires some degree of engagement from the user. Syncing information to multiple devices – so that it can be viewed on, say, both your smartphone and laptop, for example – isn’t hard, per se, but isn’t always intuitive either. If you’ve heard the phrase “sync devices” bandied about but never quite understood how to do it yourself, then this article is for you. With the applications and software programs listed below, syncing your devices – and putting all of your information right at your fingertips – is easier than ever. Download these apps today and get started.

Google Drive

One of the easiest, quickest and most intuitive ways to sync devices and make information accessible anywhere is through Google Drive. All that’s needed is a Google account, which by this point in time most people have, and one can store and create documents in the cloud. Think of Google Drive as Gmail for files, rather than messages. Everything from photos to spreadsheets and text documents can be stored, and shared, using Google Drive – and it’s incredibly easy and free.

Dropbox

Similar to Google Drive, Dropbox enables online, cloud-based storage of various file types, including photos, music, spreadsheets, PDFs and more. However, as Dropbox isn’t provided by one of the Internet’s largest, most reputable companies, some accounts do require payment. After all, Dropbox has to pay the bills somehow, and it doesn’t have a massive advertising platform to do it! That being said,

Dropbox does offers free account options, and is a proven and respected platform for storing information in a central location for decentralized access.

Goodsync

Available for Windows, Apple, and Android devices, Goodsync is a software program that automatically backs up files on sync devices, without storing them in the cloud. The program can both backup and sync files, and it can do so either in real-time or on scheduled delay. And with Goodsync Connect, it does this quickly and securely, without relying on 3rd party servers, which can slow this process down and introduce potential vulnerability.

Apple iCloud

If you have an Apple product, then you are likely already aware of iCloud. In fact, if you’re like some, you may be familiar with iCloud because you’ve been frustrated with the service a time or two. Despite some issues that may hinder ease of use for some, there can be no doubt that iCloud is a tremendously powerful and effective platform for sync devices. Whether it’s music, photos, apps, or more, iCloud makes it possible to view all of your data across the full suite of Apple products – iPhones, iPads, iMacs and more. And like Google Drive, it’s entirely free. Better yet (for most, anyway), it’s automatic too. Activate it and forget about it!

About the AuthorJessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

At Danipa, providing quality solutions for our customers has always been a top priority. Since day one, we’ve been committed to hand-picking the best options to fit our customers’ needs.

That’s why it was a no-brainer for us to join the Dropbox Partner Network and add Dropbox for Business to our suite of services. The reason we’re really excited, though, is because Dropbox is a unique offering that delivers the same trusted, user-friendly service to businesses through Dropbox for Business.

Founded in 2007, Dropbox has been a trusted service for 300 million users to put their most important stuff. It solves the tough problem of syncing files from your computer so you can work on them offline, and lets you have all your stuff, whenever you need it. Dropbox is also cross-platform, so you can use it with the operating system or mobile device your company already uses.

Dropbox for Business adds robust management and control for IT admins to the same easy-to-use experience people know and love with Dropbox. Dropbox is helping empower employees with the tech they love, while giving IT the confidence that their data is secure.

Whether your employees are already using Dropbox, have never tried a cloud-based solution, or are somewhere in-between, Dropbox for Business makes it incredibly easy to get started or move onto the business offering. Plus, we’ll be there with you every step of the way to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Dropbox for Business is currently used in over 4 million businesses, with 1 billion files saved per day.

To learn more about Dropbox for Business and how it can impact your business, contact us at (519) 748-6874 to speak with one of our sales specialists.

About Danipa
Danipa is a web design and Internet marketing company based in Kitchener, Ontario. We offer secure cloud-based solutions that allow businesses to share important documents across multiple devices, improve employee productivity and efficiency while cutting their IT cost. For more information about Danipa, please visit http://www.danipa.com.

About Dropbox:
Dropbox simplifies the work and personal lives of millions of people by letting them bring their documents, photos and videos anywhere and share them easily. The service has more than 300 million users and is used in over 4 million businesses, with over 1 billion files saved per day. For more information, please visit https://www.dropbox.com/press

With the introduction of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, there is now no denying the popularity – and demand – for large-screen devices. Perhaps the most famous and prolific of the smaller screen holdouts, the iPhone represented a bygone era; one in which devices were designed to fit nicely in your pocket, but perhaps not with ease of use in mind. But now that the larger iPhone 6 has ushered in a new era at the world’s largest technology company, the writing is on the wall. With devices like the iPhone and iPad Air getting ever larger, the era of the large display has proudly arrived.

It’s Time to Reconsider the Browsing Experience

So what are the potential repercussions of larger screens on traditionally mobile devices? What does it say about users, and the public in general, that mobile devices are growing in size with each passing year? And does it foretell a time when mobile devices will no longer be, well, mobile? We may not be able to answer all of these questions, but in general, it can be stated without too much controversy that screens are growing in size because people are increasingly turning away from their desktop devices and towards their smart devices for everyday use. With smartphones, tablets and phablets becoming much more than mere novelties – in fact, they have become the new computers – it was perhaps inevitable that screens would grow in size to accommodate the devices’ new roles.

If it’s true that individuals are increasingly using their mobile devices for everything from Internet browsing to online purchases to banking – and let us state plainly that they are – then it is also true that companies which previously designed their websites primarily for a desktop viewing experience need to reevaluate their approach to how people view the Internet. A business that fails to develop a mobile-friendly website runs the real risk of alienating its customer base and losing its competitive edge. Mobile is the future of Internet use, and making a website that is compatible across devices is as important as it once was to make a website that was compatible across browsers.

What Is a Mobile-Friendly Website?

The easiest way to answer this question might be to state what a mobile-friendly website is not: a mobile website is not a separate and unique website, wholly different from its desktop version. Though this might have been the case four or five years ago, when smartphones were first arriving into the marketplace, that is no longer true. Now, a mobile-friendly website is one that is mobile-responsive, capable of adapting and changing as needed to fit the screen that it’s on, but maintaining its core elements, from content to design.

But why is a mobile-responsive site needed? In simple terms, mobile websites live by a different set of rules. Buttons and links are generally larger, extraneous information might be marginalized, layouts become more vertical (or horizontal, depending on the screen), and the interface morphs so that it is better suited to a touch screen, as opposed to a desktop monitor. As the name implies, a mobile-friendly website is one that provides a friendly and pleasant user experience for individuals on mobile devices – not one that is frustrating and unsatisfying. Think of how annoying it is to have to tap, pinch and zoom; mobile-friendly websites aim to eliminate this.

Mobile is the Future – Are Businesses Ready?

With phablets, tablets and smartphones selling like hotcakes (no doubt spurred on by companies like T-Mobile offering free 4G LTE for devices like the iPad Air and Galaxy Note 4), businesses would be well-advised to hop on the mobile-friendly bandwagon now, before it’s too late. Think about how often you use your smartphone or tablet to view the Internet (the odds are good you’re using one right now), and then let that answer the question of whether it’s important or not for companies to develop websites for mobile. The answer couldn’t be more clear.

About the AuthorJessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

Yes, yes and yes. Social media is just another way to generate backlinks to your site, which might help you rank higher –depending on what people are saying about your business.

With the popularity of social media rising, specifically Facebook well over 500 million users and growing, it’s a market you can’t afford to ignore. That’s thousands of potential leads, customers and contacts for your business. Additionally Facebook has its own pay per click campaigns so you can reach out to even more users, specifically by their interests, age and gender if necessary. Facebook has also recently introduced a whole new level of ecommerce on their site, so all your business has to do is tap into it.

Twitter is another major social media player that you really shouldn’t ignore. Twitter works by giving users bits of quick hit information. Your business can use this to its advantage by offering Twitter only coupons, a behind the scenes look at your company, previews of upcoming promotions, and more. Twitter also helps you rank higher on Google as people re-tweet you and your company name shows up more and more often.
This practice leads to higher visibility, and pushes you up as a trusted or recognized authority on the topic in organic search.

Social media can also help you to connect with your clients in a way that wasn’t possible before. You can get to know who they are, what their needs are, and most importantly what they are saying about your business as a whole. This helps you see a direct correlation between how you’re operating, how effectively your marketing dollars are being spent and what you can do to make improvements. And all of this straight from the horse’s mouth, not from a focus group or third party survey company.

So, why wouldn’t your company jump on the social media bandwagon? Well, there are a few reasons some businesses are dragging their feet. One is fear of the unknown. New technology always presents a certain amount of uncertainty. However, as a leader in your industry don’t be afraid to jump into this market with both feet. Unless you participate in a pay per click campaign, the only thing it’s going to cost you to get your social media visibility going is man hours, so you really don’t have much to lose here.

The bottom line is if you don’t jump into the social media world, your competition will. Then they will have access to the hundreds of millions of users you passed on. You might as well just hand your business over to your competition if you choose to ignore this growing market. So, play your cards right, and accept the fact that social media does affect SEO. The conversations between people online and user generated content matter to Google and they include it in their SEO algorithm.

Labels help you organize your messages into categories — work, family, to do, read later, jokes, recipes, any category you want. Labels do all the work that folders do, but with an added bonus: you can add more than one to a message.

Only you can see your labels, so whether you mark a message with “Best friend” or “Read later,” the sender will never know.

Create a label

Here’s how to create a label that you can add to any of your messages:
On the left side of the page, click More at the bottom of your labels list. (If you don’t see “More,” grab the gray dividing line with your cursor and drag it down to show more labels.)

Click Create new label.

Type the name of your new label and click Create.
You can also create a new label for a message in your Inbox by selecting the box next to the message, clicking the Label button above your message list, and then clicking Create new.

Apply your label

You can add a label to your messages in several ways:
When viewing your Inbox, select the checkbox next to those messages, click the Labels button, and click the label you want. (Or check the boxes next to several labels and click Apply.)

When viewing a message, click the Labels button to add a label to the message. You can also click and drag a label from the left side, and drop it on the message.
When writing a new message, click More options drop-down arrow More options in the bottom right corner of the compose window, click Label, and then select one of your labels.

When you add a label to a conversation, it only applies to the messages already in that conversation – not to messages sent after you applied the label. When you search for labeled messages, you’ll see any messages that match the label, along with their conversation thread. However, you won’t be able to search for an individual message in the thread that doesn’t have that label.

Organize your labels

Hover your cursor over the label on the left side of your Gmail page, and click the down-arrow that appears next to that label. A menu appears where you can change the label’s color and edit its settings, or click Edit to change the label’s name. In that menu, you can also click Remove label to delete the label from your list and remove it from all messages that were tagged with that label. You can also edit and delete labels in the Labels tab of your Gmail Settings.

Create Sub-Labels

You can add a sub-label beneath a label to create a hierarchy. For example, if you have a label for your vacations, and want to create another specifically for a trip to Hawaii, you can nest the “Hawaii” label inside your “Vacations” label. When creating a new label, you can make it a sub-label underneath another label that’s already in your account by checking the box next to ‘Nest label under’ and selecting which label you’d like to nest it under. You can also create sub-labels by hovering your cursor over an existing label on the left side of your Gmail page, clicking the down-arrow that appears next to that label, and selecting ‘Add sublabel.’

How to change your label settings

You can control some of the settings for your labels on your Labels tab. Get there by clicking the gear icon , select Settings, then Labels. Here are a few examples:
Choose which labels appear in your list on the left: In the “Show in label list” column, click the “show” or “hide” link next to each label to choose whether it will be shown in the left panel of your Gmail pages. You can also set labels to appear only when they contain unread messages (otherwise, they will be hidden).

Choose which labels appear on your messages: In the “Show in message list” column, you can choose whether you’ll see each label displayed next to its messages’ subject lines. Click hide if you don’t want to see that label name when you look at the messages it contains.

Delete labels: If you see a label that you don’t want anymore, click remove in the “Remove label” column. (You’ll have to confirm that you’d like to remove the label by clicking Delete.)

Normally, Gmail groups a message and its replies in a single, threaded conversation. If you prefer, however, you can switch back and forth between conversation view, and the traditional, unthreaded view, where all messages are listed separately.

Threaded vs. unthreaded view

After switching to unthreaded view, you’ll notice several changes in your Inbox. First, the number of messages in your Inbox will likely increase (1). This is because, rather than showing a single entry for the entire conversation, Gmail now intersperses messages throughout your Inbox, based on the date they were received (2).

To switch back to Conversation view later, just come back here and select Conversation view on.

How Unthreaded Gmail changes your Inbox

What exactly happens when you turn off Conversation view?
● Gmail reloads your Inbox and displays all messages in the unthreaded, message-based view, sorted in reverse chronological order. Based on the number of previously threaded messages you had, you’ll typically notice more messages listed in your Inbox.

● Replies to messages you sent display as separate entries in your Inbox.

● When you reply to a message, the message is sent to the recipient and to your Sent Mail label. It’s not linked to the original message.

● When viewing messages others have replied to, you’ll see the entire contents of all replies in the body of the email.

● To find messages previously linked together based on a particular subject, search for the messages based on the subject or keywords contained within the subject.

● Unthreaded view has no effect on any chats listed in your Inbox.

Check back on Danipa’s blog for more handy Gmail tips! Have a questions about Google Apps? Comment below and and will do our best to answer you question!

Watch this short video for a great explanation of what responsive design is. This will help you to understand how responsive design affects the user experience of clients accessing your website on different devices like a PC, iPad, Tablet and phone.

Global Pet Foods KW has three locations in Kitchener & Waterloo making them very busy. We worked with them to create a website that has the ability to showcase the many products that they offer, and a blog for posting relevant articles and pet care tips. We also work closely with them to manage their social media accounts and email blasts.

Check out what they have to say about Danipa below:

Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about the services that we offer!

As a business owner, there are a number of different options to consider when developing your website.

Responsive web design or “RWD” is a newer method of building a website which aims to deliver a website that is automatically tailored to the device and environment of the user who is accessing your website. Just as your needs for web browsing are different when browsing on a desktop in the comfort of your home/office compared with an iPhone while rushing through a busy airport, your website can also change to deliver a different experience depending on whether you’re at home, on the go, on a large screen device, or a small smartphone.

Watch the video below to learn more about Responsive Design.

Join the discussion and view the tutorial on Tutvid.com: http://tutvid.com SPONSOR: |||| ||||

These 2 Gmail tips will save you time! Learn how to enable “Canned Responses” and also how to quickly undo an email after you have clicked the send button!

Saving you time and Saving your bacon, that is what these two terrific Gmail features will do for you! Hiding from plain sight in the Labs section of Gmail are two tools that we all need to know about. Canned Responses and Undo Send!

We recently successfully launched a beautiful website for a new Real Estate brokerage in Mount Brydges, Ontario.

Platinum Key Realty Inc. is a full-service real estate brokerage, located in the heart of Middlesex County, that delivers the experience and expertise that today’s housing market demands. They came to Danipa looking for assistance in creating their new home on the internet! They wanted to be able to connect with current and new clients with a blog, and to also allow for the search of new listings on the website.

We also integrated third party applications to allow for on-site MLS searches of listings and for the viewing of Visual Listings..

Platinum Key also wanted the ability to connect with clients through their blogging.

Easy to manage agent bio pages were also needed, they are easy to set up as the company grows and new agents are added!

It was a pleasure to work with Platinum Key! If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Middlesex County, make sure that you drop the friendly people at Platinum Key a line! They will go out of their way to make your experience a positive one!

“The Google Apps Reseller program will help us enhance the value of Google Apps for businesses in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas,” said Patrick Aboagye, President & CEO of Danipa. “Google Apps for Business offers a broad set of powerful APIs that enable us to deliver innovative cloud-based solutions for our customers at reduced IT cost.”

Google Apps brings simple, powerful communication and collaboration tools to organizations of any size – all hosted by Google to streamline setup, minimize maintenance, and reduce IT costs.

With Gmail (including Google email security and retention, powered by Google Vault), Google Calendar, and Google Sites, users can stay connected and work together with ease. With Google Docs and Google Drive, which include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and website creation tools, users can share files and collaborate in real-time, keeping versions organized and available wherever and whenever users work.

The Google Apps Reseller program includes value-added resellers, consultants, managed software providers, and independent software vendors that sell, service and customize Google Apps for Business for their customers. Danipa received training, support and deployment services from Google, as well as access to APIs for integrating Google Apps into their customers’ business operations.

Danipa is able to retain a close relationship with their customers by providing additional service and support. The businesses receiving Google Apps will benefit from the additional attention to their specific needs.

Danipa is a web design, development and Internet marketing company based in Kitchener, Ontario that develops online solutions for businesses worldwide. We have been providing cloud-based solutions for businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for over 7 years and have expertise in web design, development and the setup up of Google Apps, Google Analytics, Google AdWords and Google Webmaster Tools.

It was a pleasure to work with Suzanne Leakey to create a new website that serves as a showcase for her amazing Portfolio of Family Photography, Model Photography, and Commercial Photography. Suzanne needed a website that showed off how amazing her images were and we are very happy with how the website turned out! The home page is very simple on purpose, so that the user is gets to experience her work.

Suzanne works with clients from throughout South Western Ontario, including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford and more! Visit Suzanne’s website and check out her work today!

At Danipa, we are always excited to work with people when they are creating a brand new website! For the Criminal Lawyers at 30 Queen Street in Kitchener, Ontario, we developed an online solution that gives them the opportunity to highlight lawyers and answer questions via the new blog. For this project we created a new logo, new website and integrated a WP blog theme.

1. Home Page features a scrolling screen showcasing the lawyers

2. Profile Page that highlights the Biography of each Criminal Lawyer and includes a custom contact form and Google Map integration for each profile.

3. Services Page features a drop down feature that showcases the types of criminal charges that they can assist clients with.

We often get clients who are in the initial stages of starting a business or who are starting a new marketing campaign and realize that they need help choosing an appropriate domain name. Several years ago we went over the different options available for choosing a domain for your business in this blog post, it is one of our most popular blog posts and since it has been quite awhile since our last post on domains, we are updating the content for 2013!

We always stress the importance of choosing a domain name that is both simple and easy to remember and that is also in line with what you are going to be using the website for. A good domain name will be an important part of your marketing strategy if integrated properly. Listed below are some of the most important tips for choosing a domain name that will be the perfect match for your company.

Brainstorm Keywords

If using your company name is not the preferred option and you are looking for something different, take the time to sit down and brainstorm about 5-6 keywords or phrases that describe the business that you do.

Once you are happy with your keywords, visit a domain registration site (Like www.danipa.com/domains) and begin the search for available domains.

Prepare to be disappointed! You might think that your name is unique but chances are that someone has already thought of it and purchased the domain name. Don’t give up and mix and match using your keywords, eventually you will find an available name!

To avoid competitors purchasing similar domains it is also advisable to purchase domains in different extensions (e.g .com, .ca, .org, .net).

Keep it Simple

You want your customers to easily associate your domain name with your business or brand. If a domain requires a lot of attention to type correctly then you lose part of its marketing value almost immediately! Avoid Hyphens and numbers as they make it hard to verbally promote your website. This is important if you advertise through radio or over the phone. You do not want your customers to be unable to find your website simply because they have spelled it incorrectly.

Double Check

Once you have found the perfect domain name, take some time to check if it is available in social media accounts. If your name is already in use on Twitter, Facebook or other social media accounts than your brand recognition across channels will diminish. You should also take the time to see if there is a trademark or copyright on the name. Be very careful when registering names that have a copyright on them, or that are very similar to a trademarked name. You can be setting yourself up for a hassle if the licensee decides that you have infringed upon their trademark.

Pro Tips

1. Keep it simple and easy to remember
2. Avoid Hyphen’s, dashes and numbers
3. Use your company or brand name if possible
4. Avoid Slang terms – Not everyone understands what you mean!
5. Check if social media accounts are available to match the name
6. Register your name for more than one year
7. Choose automatic renewal – Never forget to renew!
8. Keep it short – Long names are easy to mistype!

In short, it is important to take the time to choose a domain name that will satisfy your needs for years to come. By taking the time to research available names you can be confident that your small investment will pay off in the long term in marketing and branding!

You’ve probably heard of “recession-proof” businesses- those that thrive, or at least don’t dive, when the economy tanks out on us. Liquor sales (no shock there) is one of those industries, along with the less crucial ones like health care, production and distribution of food staples, funerary services etc. However, there’s one facet of the market that’s not only safe from the economy’s occasional swan dives, it actually thrives- coupons and couponing. So if there’s a silver lining to be found bordering the dark cloud of recession, it’s that right now is a great time to attract customers with coupons.

Modern Couponing and How to Use It

This being the aforementioned age of everything digital, the frontiers of couponing (soon to be a major, very dull, motion picture) are being defined on the internet. The net is even redefining the concept of coupons. E-mail distribution, printable coupons from a website, coupons with codes that can only be scanned via apps, click-able banners, online-only coupons, social networking and share-able offers, etc.

The biggest e-players, though, are the “social coupon” sites like Wrazz, Gizmodo, Goldstar, Living Social, and their reigning godfather- Groupon. It’s no secret that they’re changing the economic landscape, with customers numbering in the tens (probably hundreds) of millions, collectively spending billions. Perhaps more appealing, marketing researchers found that social coupon sites were most popular with young, educated, above average income-earning women- a very lucrative market. As a member of that demographic, except for the income thing, I can certainly attest to my own use of them.

As such, consider using one of these services. If you feel like your business isn’t the kind of undertaking that would profit from a social coupon outlet, think outside the box. Groupons have been offered for- plastic surgery and circumcision; a professional, $100 tucking-you-into-bed service; Jeffrey Dahmer’s neighborhood tours, etc. Those sites, Groupon in particular, have established a reputation for odd and non-traditional sorts of coupon offers- so think it over.

What Your Coupon Should Look and Work

The popularity of e-coupons means that there are a lot of them out there. A very deep observation, I know. That means they work but it also means that the coupon-o-sphere is packed. And that means- your coupon has to stand out. You want it eye-catching but not distracting and informative but not cluttered. Including a good photo or illustration is almost never a bad idea for livening up your coupon.

As for the clutter- make your offer clear and bold with a specifically-defined benefit- “Get —– 20% Off!” “Buy Two —– Get One Free!”, or whatever that offer is. Don’t be afraid of white space. People are far more likely to look at an internalize a little text in a decent amount of space than they are a lot of text in less space. Once your coupon is clear, concise and catchy, define its boundaries. Always be clear and absolute about the terms: say exactly when the coupon expires (and if it’s an actual coupon for a good deal, it should expire); clarify that the coupon is limited to however many people at once; only —— customer(s) per coupon; “Deal does not include alcoholic beverages”, and the like.

Create Loyalty and Then Reward It

If it’s possible for you to do so- track your coupons and those who use it. Have customers who take advantage of your coupon give you their information for future deals. If you put your deal up on a number of sites and/or media, track where those coupons that come in for redemption were found. And obviously, focus more heavily on those sources for future campaigns. Coupons are meant to draw business but should be designed to keep it, too.

For the all-important customer-retention, consider coupons that are just available to current, loyal customers. Have coupons that are only redeemable from your Facebook page and/or send offers to your customers by e-mail or snail mail. Send out a note to people that you will be opening your doors an hour early for loyal, appreciate patrons, with coffee and muffins and everything there is 20% for that hour, etc.

Drawbacks and Concerns

This may not sound like a drawback, but beware the possibility that your coupon campaign draws too many customers. It’s not hard to find example on the web of a small business that offers some ambitious deal, gets 500-1000 takers and finds themselves overwhelmed by customer-demand they can’t meet- which is going to lose business long term. Not to mention the obvious drawback of offering a product or service for less money- you’re getting less money from people who use that coupon.

Be absolutely sure your bottom line can handle the hit it’s going to take if dozens, hundreds or thousands of customers take you up on your offer.

Do the research and do the math before you offer a coupon. And if an e-coupon campaign seems like the best way to go, begin with a very conservative run. Remember that not only will you very possibly be dealing with a great number of new customers, they’re going to be paying less for your product or service and your social coupon partner is going to take a bite out of that already-diminished profit. If you have clear-eyed exectations, however, an e-coupon campaign can positively change the landscape of your business, as it has for so many others.

About the Author:

Annie Harrington is a small business owner and freelance writer. In her free time she enjoys writing about small business, business in general, couponing and anything else she finds interesting.

White space, so named because of its common use in graphic design (which usually uses white paper), is essential in creating a design aesthetic that is clear, concise, and appealing to the viewer. But make no mistake about it—white space is not to be confused with blank space at all. In fact, white space isn’t even always white. It is, however, always empty, always clean, always in demand.

White space works to draw attention to the more complex elements on the page that it’s meant to contrast. The world of advertising has fully embraced the trend—we’re seeing it in print advertising, television commercials, and individual business correspondence. It’s appearing on banners, business cards, and is often used in custom poster printing, including advertising jewelry, restaurants, and sporting equipment.

This strategy of simplicity works for a variety of reasons. First, it allows a consumer the opportunity to immediately digest the product or text being presented to them. Often, especially in the case of television, the product name is not immediately presented to the audience. Instead, a viewer is faced with a simple product and allowed time to contemplate its complexities. I’m thinking specifically about an ad for “Wonderful Pistachios” that aired during the 2013 Super Bowl, in which singer Psy sings a version of “Gangnam Style” tailored to the pistachio. The commercial is set against a white background and features humans dressed as nuts in black leggings and tan and neon green shells. Psy’s outfit mirrors theirs, but includes a suit jacket instead of a shell. It isn’t until the end that the viewer is even presented with the product’s official packaging—and yet, we know.

We know because good companies assist the consumer in brand recognition. Often, this happens by way of strategic use of white space. In the mid 90’s, Hallmark launched a campaign designed to get people to flip over a greeting card to identify the brand. Consumers found a nearly centered black and white Hallmark logo surrounded by white space. The design was replicated in print advertisements and eventually requested as an ad design by magazines. The simplicity spoke to consumers and advertisers alike.

White space is so crucial because it forms a lasting impression in the mind of the viewer. In their simplicity, ads that utilize white space are more memorable to viewers. Ultimately, these individuals are presented with less material but leave a scenario with more information. Their attention has been focused on the most important details of a product—and the sleek, modern way in which they’ve been presented leaves a lasting impression.

Finally, the abundant use of white space in artwork creates a look that establishes an immediate sense of mood in an advertisement while minimizing printing costs. And, the more simplistic the design, the more timeless it becomes. Think about something as simple as a personalized birthday banner—given the use of white space, you can communicate a simple message in a meaningful and memorable way, a birthday banner that wishes Grandma a happy 70th and Junior a happy 5th.. And best of all? Everyone will keep their focus on Grandma, not your cluttered design.

Put your new found knowledge to the test. Go here and see if you can tell what makes it or breaks it for these designs.

About the Author:

Annie Harrington is a small business owner and freelance writer. In her free time she enjoys writing helpful articles so that other small business owners can positively impact their brand image. When she’s not writing she is either taking photos or designing custom banners with Vistaprint.

Is your site easy on the eyes? Is your logo a no-go? Maybe it’s time to find a graphic designer to help put things right. They’re all over the web and the classifieds, offering styles for every taste and services to fit every wallet.

Freebies, advice, templates, and webhosting sites abound. You took all those art classes back in the day. And now you feel inspired by the DIY genie to grace your website with a logo of your own making. After all, who knows you better than you do? You are your brand.

What have you got to lose—business, image, and professional identity?

Okay, brave one. Graphic design is not for the faint of heart. Even the pros fall prey to the pitfalls of overconfidence and bad layout. Go ahead and take your best shot. Just remember one thing when grappling with graphic design conundrums: give us a little KISS—keep it simple, stupid.

Here’s a list of common graphic design mistakes:

A hodgepodge of fonts—too many fonts spoil the message. Give us a page that’s easy to read. Pick a font and marry it. For headlines, use italics or bold face and larger type size. Research fonts common to your business sector and don’t venture too far off the grid.

Not enough white space on the page. Enough said.

Font size too small—unless your target demographic is 25 years old or younger, give a creative shout out to the visually challenged. That’s around 40% of people over 30. If they can’t read your message, they won’t linger long enough to find out what you’re selling.

So much info, so little space—use headlines and bullet points to break it up. Write your memoir on your laptop, not on your website. What do you want us to buy—your credentials, product, or service? We don’t need your family history for that.

A kaleidoscope of colors—an assault to the senses. Choose brand colors that suit your business or the type of service you offer. This is called brand synergy. Color is a power tool in the right hands. Look for guides on the psychological effects of different colors.

Fuzzy messaging—what do you want to say? Be clear. Have a goal and stick to it. Strong copy that’s meant to sell will take us where you want us to go, like the shopping cart. Check out a direct response copywriting course.

Don’t get too cute with colors and type unless your target audience is toddlers and their moms. Fancy fonts, curly-cues, and hearts do not project a professional message.

Logo doesn’t translate to grayscale: you want your logo to look good in color and in black and white. What if someone wants to print a page from your site, and your logo turns to mush? You may need help from a pro.

Low quality photos & images—now’s the time to invest in visuals that will translate into various media without compromising their quality. Get the best photos in the highest resolution you can afford.

Organic rather than homogenous—use the same logo design and color scheme when planning your site, business cards, envelopes, stationery, plates, napkins, and coffee mugs. Think: what would Martha Stewart do?

Wonky Line Spacing—can lead to unintended consequences, occasionally an innocent word turns lewd and obscene because the letters are too close, or the type goes askew. If it’s your logo or ad, it’s not even funny.

Chaotic mix of graphics, drawings, and photos on one page—we can’t get away from your site fast enough. It’s not art. It’s clutter.

Too may photos on one page—looks like you threw a stack of photos on the coffee table and forgot to put them back in the box. Don’t be lazy.

You let your graphic designer or webmaster call the shots? A recipe for disaster. Collaborate, don’t delegate. It’s your business identity, your bottom line that hangs in the balance, which brings to mind:

Avoid clichés. You have a unique product or service to offer the world—express it through graphic design that intrigues, excites, and energizes. Look for a fresh take, not the same old, same old. Bon mots from Tom Peters: “Remember my mantra… distinct or extinct.”

Keeping these common mistakes in mind, you may want to pay special attention to the planning stages of your brand. If you find yourself falling into one of these patterns, it might be time to bring in the big guns, and hire a professional who will work with you to get the perfect design. After all, what’s more important than your brand, and how people receive it?

As a business owner or manager, I know that using social media to market your brand can feel weary. Although confusing and overwhelming at times, social media can be a very powerful tool for your business. If you are on the fence about bringing your business to social media, these 5 benefits might just convince you to join.

Cost

In the past, marketing was a huge part of a business’s budget. Marketing is still a huge part of business, but the form has shifted. Social media is a great way to market your business, and it’s free! It levels the playing field between businesses and opens everyone up to a large audience. Social media allows you to invest more time than money into your marketing campaign.

Customer Relationship

Social media allows you to create relationships with customers by directly interacting with them. Customers will be encouraged to respond to posts, and keeping the conversation about your business going through different social media feeds will keep them aware of it. Not only do your customers most likely use social media actively every day, they also take it with them everywhere via smartphone. In addition to this, customers can share information from your page onto their page. This is the new form of recommendations, customers share what businesses they like with their friends on social media, which encourages their friends to give your business a try as well.

Keep up on Competitors

Using social media for your business will allow you browse through other competitors pages. You can see what customers are saying to them, products, and other information that might not be readily available to you by visiting their store or website. Especially locally, this kind of information allows you to be even more competitive with pricing and quality because you can directly address the concerns your competitor’s customers have.

Email Marketing

You no longer need to wait for customers to sign up for an email list in order for you to share newsletters, discounts, or other information with them. You can now share this information with your whole audience, as well as new customers who might be browsing the page for information. Email doesn’t have to go out the window all the way you can use social media and attract customers with a “Join Mailing List” button making it even easier for them to join and stay in the know.

Build your Brand

Social media allows you to really grow and confirm your brand. Businesses now have voices, giving you the ability to accurately build the image you want for your company. Respond to local events, news, and reviews in a tactful, timely manner. Your image and brand can really show itself on social media, and give customers an idea of the experience they will have using your business. Social media can help give you that boost to make your brand memorable to customers.

If you want a cheap, fast, accessible way to reach your business’s audience and customer base turn to social media. Just remember to keep your pages positive and respond to customers tactfully, since these profiles become the face of your business. Good luck and have fun!

About the Author

Annie Harrington is a small business owner and freelance writer. In her free time she enjoys writing about ways other business owners can positively impact their brand image with custom poster printing and other printed material.